Protest against extortion calls in Manipur

India

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Published: Saturday, May 24, 2008, 13:10 [IST]

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Imphal, May 24: Students, their guardians and teachers of Standard Robarth English Higher Secondary school at Canchipur in Imphal recently staged a sit-in protest against militants for demanding money from the school authorities.

"The students are going to become good scientists, doctors and engineers. Without them, our society will not survive. So, if they continue to harm common people such as students what benefit they are getting out of it," said S Elcy Devi, a student.

The Kangleipok Communist Party (KCP) has demanded some extortion, which the school authorities have refused to pay.

Two militants allegedly belonging to KCP delivered two bombs in a packed to the principal's office creating all round panic and terror among students and teaching staffs.

Jackson Singh, another student said, "Many students all around the state have been learning here for long time. So what would have happened had the bomb got burst. If that bomb were blast, many students would have been lost their lives."

Last year, militants burnt a government school in Chandel district.

The spurt in attack on educational institutions is baffling the Manipuris. They wonder why the militants are targeting temples of learning where the future of the new generation shaped and molded.

"As a teaching fraternity, I'd say that this is a challenge against the all the children in the whole country and against the whole world. This menace should be stopped at any point," said Ph Romikanta Singh, a teacher.

In a state where there is lack of proper educational facilities, attacking existing centres of learning reveals the evil mindsets of the militant groups who claim to represent the interests of the society.

"This really puzzled us. So each and every Manipuri is asking them what is the goal and impact of that," said L Suranjoy Singh, a parent.